三省吾身
三省吾身 (sān xǐng wú shēn) literally means “examine self three times” and expresses “self-reflect daily”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: san xing wu shen, san xing wu shen,三省吾身 meaning, 三省吾身 in english
Self-reflect daily
Pronunciation: sān xǐng wú shēn Literal meaning: Examine self three times
Origin & Usage
Zengzi, not Confucius, says it in the Analects: daily I examine (省) myself (吾身) on three (三) points — whether I have been unfaithful in planning for others, whether I have been untrustworthy with friends, whether I have failed to practise what was passed on to me. Whether 三 counts the occasions or the questions has been argued over for centuries. Note the reading: 省 is xǐng here, to examine, not shěng. The phrase is the standard Chinese term for deliberate daily self-scrutiny.
Examples
English: "The leader reflected daily on his decisions and their consequences"
Chinese: 这位领导每天反思自己的决定及其后果
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Weigh it before you move
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欲速不达
yù sù bù dá
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
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三人成虎
sān rén chéng hǔ
Repeated lie becomes truth
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入木三分
rù mù sān fēn
Profoundly penetrating insight
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狡兔三窟
jiǎo tù sān kū
Always have backup plans
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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韦编三绝
wéi biān sān jué
Diligent, repeated study
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 三省吾身 mean in English?
三省吾身 (sān xǐng wú shēn) literally translates to “Examine self three times” and is used to express “Self-reflect daily”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 三省吾身 used?
Situation: The leader reflected daily on his decisions and their consequences
What is the pinyin for 三省吾身?
The pinyin pronunciation for 三省吾身 is “sān xǐng wú shēn”.
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